How much Should I Weigh for my Height and Age?

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Having the ideal weight for our height is not an easy thing for us to do. Our body easily responds to the way we live our lives. Our diet, lifestyle and daily activities significantly reflect how our body will look. Because of this, a lot of us find it very difficult to maintain the perfect body weight that is recommended for our height. Our weight and our height are considered directly proportional to each other. This means that the taller our height is, the bigger should our weight be. However, maintaining this kind of proportion requires a lot of hard work and sacrifices in terms of the food we eat as well as in our daily routines. This is the reason why a lot of people end up becoming overweight or obese. So the question now that we all want to know the answer is; how much should I weigh for my height and age?

Understanding Body Weight

What is body weight? Body weight is described as the mass of a body in addition to the force of gravity that is commonly measured in terms of pounds or kilograms. The body weight is associated to the increase of fat in the body or it can also be affected by the increase of muscle size. In other words, our body weight depends on a lot of factors. This is the reason why keeping a close look on our current weight is highly recommended in order to maintain it within the ideal limits as we grow older. This is specifically important to those individuals who are already over the age of 40 and have high cholesterol and blood pressure problems.

Learning the Ideal Weight for Height

In order for us to maintain our weight in normal limits, we can try and base it with our current height. One way for us to do this is to get our BMI or Body Mass Index measurement. This specific measurement calculates the ideal weight for a specific height. The BMI also indicates whether our body belongs to the underweight, normal, overweight or obese categories. Nevertheless, identifying our BMI is not enough to keep us fit and healthy since this only serves as a test or measurement as to where our body weight currently stands. A regular health check up with our doctor at least twice a year is still highly advisable.

In other words, the BMI or the Body Mass Index is a quick measurement or indication in order to known our current weight status. There are different ways in order for us to calculate our BMI. This can be done by dividing the wight in kilograms by the height in meters squared. Another possible way in doing this is by dividing the weight in pounds by the height in inches squared and multiply the answer by 703. For example, the weight of a person is 170 pounds and his height is 5 feet 10 inches tall or 70 inches. So using the second method of obtaining the BMI, we can divide 170 pounds with the square of 70 inches which is 4,900. The answer is 0.0347 which is then multiplied to 703 (standard rate) in order to get the BMI result of 24.39. We can then compare this measurement to the Body Mass Index Values in order to see whether our weight is proportional or ideal with our height. A result that is 18.5 or less indicates an underweight BMI. A result that is between 18.6 and 24.9 is classified as medium BMI or the normal weight. However, if the result is above 25 and less than 29.9, then the measurement shows high BMi or overweight. Once the BMI result already exceeds 30, then it is already under the very-high BMI classification or the obese.

So based on these measurement, we can determine that the body weight of the individual is within the normal range. This shows that our weight is perfectly proportionate with our height. So in order for us to determine whether or not our weight is ideal for our height, then we can calculate our BMI and see whether it fall under the normal category. We could also try and see what the ideal range of weight for a specific height is by checking out this link ( http://www.healthchecksystems.com/heightweightchart.htm ) and see the pre-calculated measurements that we could use as our guide or basis.

However, determining the BMI alone does not show how healthy our body is. An athletic person can be considered heavier compared to a couch person of the same height because of the significant amount of muscles in the body. As we all know, muscles are considered heavier than fats, which is not determined by the BMI measurement. This means that the athletic person could fall under the overweight category while the couch person could be categorized as normal. However, if we try to see both body types, we can clearly conclude that the athletic person is a lot healthier than the couch person which is something that the BMI measurement cannot indicate. This means that regular check up is still advisable in order for the attending physician or health expert to determine whether the body is in normal or good condition.

These are just some of the important facts about having the ideal weight for a specific height measurement. Becoming health conscious is something that all of us should practice since this does not only improve how we look but it can also reduce the risks of having certain types of diseases such as cancer, heart problems and diabetes. We should all remember that health is man’s greatest wealth!

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